Marquette University
BIG EAST Championship
Eichhorn (-2) Leads Thru 36 at BIG EAST Championships
4/30/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Results | Photo Gallery
CALLAWASSIE ISLAND, S.C. -- Marquette freshman Hunter Eichhorn posted a second round 73 (1-over-par), good enough to hold onto the top spot at 2-under-par, while the second-place Golden Eagles (290-306--596) are three strokes behind leader Georgetown at the 2018 BIG EAST Men's Golf Championships.
After both the Hoyas (289-304--593) and Marquette were 20 shots clear of the field on Sunday, the gap closed on Monday after DePaul (309-293--602) shot 5-over-par as a team to move six shots behind the Golden Eagles, who were 18-over-par for the round on the Par 72, 6,993-yard course at Callawassie Island G.C.
Despite a second round 78, Matt Murlick (70-78-148) is 4-over-par for the tournament and tied for seventh place, six shots behind Eichhorn.
Eichhorn (69-73--142) had a slow start at 3-over-par through four holes, but made four birdies over his next six to pull ahead of the field. He came in at 1-over-par, but held his lead at one shot over Butler's Patrick Allgeier (75-68--143, 1-under-par).
"I fought back pretty hard," Eichhorn said. "I battled back well, but also left a few shots out there. Instead of getting flustered, I've been really good this week about brushing things off and at least giving myself a putt for par."
"He has a lot of fight in him," head coach Steve Bailey said.
Marquette piled up 10 birdies on the front nine, highlighted by four birdies on the 168-yard Par 3 No. 8 hole.
The No. 8 hole at @CallawassieSC is the 🐥house.
4 birdies in the second round for Marquette. See them all.⛳️ @BIGEASTchamps pic.twitter.com/Q9XcqJXHoj- Marquette Golf (@MarquetteMGolf) April 30, 2018
Outside of Oliver Farrell's (T-15, 75-78--153) even par finish coming in, the Golden Eagles struggled on the back nine, coming home at 17-over-par.
"I was proud of Oliver today," Bailey said. "There's days where you might think that 'my score's not counting,' but you just never know. You just continue to battle until that last putt falls."
Marquette will look to rally for its second straight BIG EAST Championship, beginning at 7:50 a.m. CT on Tuesday, playing with DePaul and Georgetown in the final threesomes.
"You'd always love to have the lead, but out here shots can be made up quickly," Bailey said. "Embrace the situation - we've been in it before."
